Turkey’s greatest city of Istanbul hosted an historic event on March 9, where Japanese and Turkish officials met to commemorate Ertuğrul Frigate which was dispatched by the Sultan of the time, Abdulhamid II, in order to lay the foundations of Turkish-Japanese solidarity.

A prominent event of Turkish naval history started in 1887 when the Ottoman Sultan ordered a delegation to go to the Japanese Emperor with a privilige brand and special gifts.

The frigate got under way from Istanbul as relatives of the crew saw their beloved ones off in 1889 from Sarayburnu district of the historical peninsula. The naval ship drew great attention from all ports of call.

Following an 11-month journey, the Ertuğrul Frigate spent 3 months in Japanese waters, establishing the foundations of long-term friendly relations between Japanese and Turkish people.

However, the round trip became the last journey of the 527 marines when the Frigate crashed at the ring reef and sank off the shores of Japan.

The tragic event brought two peoples so close, as Japanese people and authorities kept honoring their friendly ties today in Turkish War Colleges Command.